Renewable energy solution for Meyerton’s new shopping centre

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07-11-2024
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The Citizen Online
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The shopping centre will generate its own power to a large extent.

MEYERTON – The Riverstone Mall, which is expected to open its doors in March 2025, will rely largely on its own solar power and battery system to keep the lights on.

Alley Roads, one of South Africa’s largest affordable housing developers, and Blue Energy Africa, a leading developer and operator of built-in clean energy infrastructure, announced last week that the new shopping centre will make use of a unique energy solution.

The shopping centre’s battery will be supplied with power by a 2.3MWp solar panel system.

The system will provide enough power to allow the shopping centre to function almost without Eskom’s power supply.

This will result in the shopping centre emitting 4 000 tons less carbon dioxide per year.

This is equivalent to a total carbon emission saving of more than 80 000 tons over 20 years, compared to conventional power obtained from the grid.

According to Ivan Pretorius, founder and CEO of Alley Roads, this energy solution will not only ensure an uninterrupted experience for shoppers but also protect tenants from significant increases in power rates.

According to the latest operating cost report by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), property taxes and electricity costs make up more than 50% of the total operating costs of commercial property owners.

Blue Energy Africa will pioneer the installation of a 5.0MWh battery, one of the largest batteries of its kind in the country.

The battery will be powered by a 2.3MWp photovoltaic (PV) panel system, which ensures that the shopping centre can operate during inclement weather conditions and in the evenings.

Jan van Ravenswaay, chief technology officer of Blue Energy Africa, says: “We are excited to launch our partnership with Alley Roads through the Riverstone Mall hybrid energy project, an important milestone in our clean energy journey.”